Reading the Detectives discussion

Welcome to our July 2019 group read.

Published in 1946, this is a stand alone novel by Josephine Tey.

Leys Physical Training College is famous for its excellent discipline and its spectacularly athletic students. Miss Lucy Pym, expert psychologist, is pleased and flattered to be invited to lecture there - even if the Olympian splendour of the students leaves her feeling just a little inadequate.

But a nasty accident spoils the occasion, and suddenly Miss Pym must turn her intellect to the unpleasant suspicion that, among all these healthy young students, there lurks an incurably sick mind...

Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.

As it is nearly July, and the weekend, shall we open this discussion now? Enjoy, everyone.

I realized upon starting this book that although I have an ancient and crumbling paperback copy, I have never read it before. So it will be an adventure for me!

Can't believe it's that time. I have added Miss Pym to my leaning tower of books I must start/am reading. Can I juggle 5 books at once..? Looking forward to this one, though.

Thanks for opening this discussion up, Susan. I read this a couple of years ago and remember it well, but have also refreshed my memory by listening to a good BBC radio adaptation which used a lot of the original wording.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DsYr...

PS I see I gave it 3 stars, but I remember it so well, where many other books have faded in my mind since, that it should probably have been 4! I did have one or two problems with it at the time which I will keep for the spoiler thread.

Abigail wrote: "I realized upon starting this book that although I have an ancient and crumbling paperback copy, I have never read it before. So it will be an adventure for me!"

I’ve never read this one, either. I read the first chapter yesterday, but decided to finish the Poirot book for the month, Dumb Witness, first, then read this one.

My request showed up at the library so I started it sooner than I expected.

Enjoying the characterizations but if this is all background, there is a lot of it. Also, not a setting I can identify with as the longest I was away from home was two weeks in a summer camp.

I am really amused by Miss Pym's psychological expertise: read books, write one, accept accolades.

Sandy wrote: "My request showed up at the library so I started it sooner than I expected.

Enjoying the characterizations but if this is all background, there is a lot of it. Also, not a setting I can identify ..."

Glad your copy came through, Sandy. Definitely a lot of set-up! I went to boarding school, but the atmosphere here probably reminds me more of university, as they are young women who will be heading off to work afterwards.

I agree with you about Miss Pym - her expertise seems to be very much secondhand and based on her assumptions rather than on research!

Yes, I found that funny, as well- read books, write a book, be regarded as an expert...no plagiarism laws, I guess!

That aspect of Miss Pym's career certainly shows how academic disciplines have changed--and not necessarily for the better. The shrewd-reasoning amateur is a brand of thinker I rather miss! And it sets up Miss Pym as well positioned to penetrate a mystery.

Abigail wrote: "The shrewd-reasoning amateur is a brand of thinker I rather miss! And it sets up Miss Pym as well positioned to penetrate a mystery ..."

Ooh, good point. That hadn't struck me - she would definitely have had to do a lot of thinking through and piecing things together to write her book, although I'm still not convinced by her psychological expertise.

Well, it was a pretty young field in those days, not very well developed, not very scientific, and full of nutty ideas. It sounded from the description as if she at least brought a little common sense to the table--with the exception of the physiognomy nonsense, of course!

I am moving along slowly (because reading more than one book at once) and find myself really immersed in the world of Leys. Tey does a good job of conveying the slightly claustrophobic atmosphere of a college, how its little happenings and negotiations tend to take over the minds of the inhabitants till they lose all perspective. I'm feeling all the tension that can adhere to ordinary events like taking exams and getting one's first job.

I've been meaning to post some links to photos of Anstey Physical Training College, which Josephine Tey attended, which was the original of Leys.

This Wikipedia page has a photo of Greek dancing which has a feeling of the novel to me - do they actually do Greek dancing in it? I'm not sure.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anstey_...

And this is a page from a Josephine Tey website which has a few photos if you scroll down - I think the whole website is also pretty interesting:

http://www.josephinetey.net/Links.html

Abigail wrote: "I am moving along slowly (because reading more than one book at once) and find myself really immersed in the world of Leys. Tey does a good job of conveying the slightly claustrophobic atmosphere o..."

I definitely agree, Abigail - the atmosphere of the place being its own little world is very convincing.

Looking at photos of Anstey, it struck me that Tey was actually a pupil there from 1914-17, during WW1, but her book was published in 1946.

Does anyone think there is any feeling of an earlier era? I didn't notice any as far as I remember. I also don't remember any mentions of WW2 in the book.

I didn't sense any flavor of WWI (and for that matter didn't notice any mentions of WWII--it's possible she finished the book before war broke out, as none of the young men is mentioned as serving in or even thinking about the military).

There was a bit of Old-Girl-Returns-to-Campus in Miss Pym's visit, however, so maybe that thought formed part of her inspiration.

Judy wrote: "Abigail wrote: "I am moving along slowly (because reading more than one book at once) and find myself really immersed in the world of Leys. Tey does a good job of conveying the slightly claustropho..."

I would say it definitely isn't set after or during the Second World War - there does not seem to be any reference to rationing, or butter shortages either at the College or in the cafe. They make cakes with sugar and butter and chocolate ... which wouldn't have been possible in 1946.

I am a bit behind with my July group reads due to being away on holiday at the start of the month, but I have just started this one so will try to catch up!

I look forward to reading your reactions, Pamela! It certainly sparked a lot of comment.

I think all of us will be a bit behind over the summer, Pamela, so don't worry. Have you read this one before?

Susan wrote: "I think all of us will be a bit behind over the summer, Pamela, so don't worry. Have you read this one before?"

No I haven't read it, and I've only read one of her Inspector Grant books.

I have read 2 Grant books previously, and not cared for them, to be honest. I liked this more, but that may have been down to the setting.